Edgewater Eager For Return Trip To State

ORANGE SPORTS - High School Softball - District Tournaments

When it comes to recent success in the postseason, few softball programs in Central Florida can match Edgewater -- which has been to the Class 6A state tournament twice in the past three years.

Not too bad for a program that didn't have a winning season until 1999.

Now, the Eagles enter this week's District 3 tournament hoping they are beginning another trip that will lead them to the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa for the state tournament May 9-10.

The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the Sentinel Super 6 poll and No. 5 in the Florida Sports Writers Association's state poll, enter the district tournament seeded first after posting a 12-0 regular-season record against district competition.

But Edgewater also can expect some tough competition with powers like Apopka, Dr. Phillips and West Orange in the district.

The Eagles received a boost recently with starting pitcher Ashley Greene's return after missing more than 2 weeks with a sprained ankle. Greene threw shutouts in her first four games back.

Offensively, Mary Scott, who is hitting .461, is one of three Eagles hitting over .400 this season with Stacy Sanders hitting .425 (with 37 RBIs) and Carrie Cruit at .403 (with 25 RBIs).

Perhaps the most competitive 6A district in Central Florida will be District 2, which will feature Lake Mary (No. 3 in Super 6), Oviedo (No. 5 in Super 6) and Seminole.

Caitlin Mahoney leads a Lake Mary team that is 18-5 this season with a .430 batting average and 24 RBIs. Megan Miller's .378 batting average is tops for Oviedo while Seminole is led by Beth Gase, who has a .406 average.

Boone, who is No. 4 in the Super 6, enters the District 4 tournament as the favorite behind pitcher Erin McNerney, who is among the area leaders in victories, strikeouts and earned run average.

Lake Highland Prep will be looking for a district title under first-year Coach Larry Boyce when the Highlanders, ranked No. 2 in Super 6 and No. 1 in the state Class 2A poll, open the District 10 tournament.

"We've got [pitcher] Michelle Grinage [16-2 record] and I'm nine deep with excellent ballplayers,'' said Boyce, who came over from Central Florida Christian Academy. "When I took this job, they handed me the toughest schedule, bar none, and I told them we might not go .500. But the girls have played great defense and we've won.''

Winter Springs entered this season with some questions about a young pitching staff, but the Bears got some good work out of a couple of pitchers, Jessica Samuels and Chelsea Rushing, and enter the Class 5A, District 6 tournament looking for a chance to advance.

Osceola, No. 6 in Super 6, enters the Class 5A, District 13 tournament seeded second behind seventh-ranked Melbourne, but the Kowboys handed Melbourne one of its two losses. The Kowboys have struggled at the plate at times, but freshman pitcher Megan Hord (7-1, 0.13 ERA, 109 strikeouts in 56 innings) and junior Kari Abel (4-3, 1.29 ERA) have kept the Kowboys in games.

Osceola has won two consecutive district titles and has advanced beyond the district tournament in six of Coach George Coffey's seven seasons.

Eustis was rolling along undefeated in Class 3A, District 7 until being upset by a rapidly improving Mount Dora team two weeks ago, but the Panthers still head into the tournament as the top-seeded team, followed by Umatilla and Mount Dora.

Mount Dora Bible, meanwhile, enters the Class A, District 7 tournament playing its best ball of the season, and undefeated (10-0) against district teams. In fact, the only district team that has scored against the Bulldogs is second-seeded Central Florida Christian Academy -- the two-time defending state champions. The schools, in fact, account for the last three state championships with Mount Dora Bible winning in 1999.

"We have been playing very good,'' MDB Coach Jennifer Ray said. "I think the biggest key for us is going to be staying focused, especially with a young team [no seniors, only one junior].''

Another competitive district is Class 2A-9 with Daytona Beach Father Lopez, Pierson Taylor and Trinity Prep. All three teams have been ranked in the state polls during the season.